And the Word Became Flesh

Christmas Day

John 1.1-14

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 19:35)

 

Perhaps it’s an occupational hazard—whether of my current vocation as priest, or of my previous career as an engineer, it’s hard to say—but I can’t help getting wrapped up in analyzing the similarities and differences between the two versions of the Christmas story. The birth narrative from Luke’s Gospel that is customarily read on Christmas Eve, and the Prologue to John’s Gospel that is customarily read on Christmas Day. Two very different versions of the same event.

 

Setting aside for a moment that we know these two stories are differing versions of the same event, someone unfamiliar with the story of our faith would most likely see these as two completely different and unrelated stories. Not just because of the very different tones. While both speak of birth, in some sense—one being about the birth of a messianic child and the other describing the incarnation of the Divine—neither mention Jesus’ name. So, one could be forgiven for not knowing these stories speak of the same event, only from different perspectives.

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Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Christmas Eve

Isaiah 9.2-7; Luke 2.1-20

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 31:10)

 

Among my most prize possessions are a number of cross-stitch pieces done by my mother. She went through a period of prolific cross-stitching. For a number of years, we could count on receiving at least a couple of pieces each year as birthday and Christmas gifts. For me, Mom primarily did pieces with Native American or Christian themes. While they are all very dear to me because they were lovingly prepared by her just for me, one of my all-time favorites hangs in my study at home. It hangs on the wall opposite my desk, so that when I look up from my work, it’s right there. It contains a portion of tonight’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah, although in the King James Version as opposed to the New Revised Standard Version we heard this evening: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Is 2.6-7a).

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"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"

Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Matthew 11.2-11

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 16:40)

 

Most, if not all, of us, are familiar with the old saying, “actions speak louder than words.” The recognition that just because someone says something does not necessarily make it true; particularly when it comes to how they live their own life. It’s easy to make statements about one’s beliefs, one’s position on particular issues, even one’s actions. Whether they are true or not is another matter entirely. The only way to ascertain the veracity of such statements is by observing the actions of the individual in question. Are their actions consistent with their pronouncements? Perhaps the questionable nature of some people’s words relative to their actions is what gave rise to another well-known saying: “talk is cheap.” That you can say whatever you want, but it’s your actions that reveal the truth of what you believe, of who you are.

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Turning Everything Upside Down

Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Isaiah 11.1-10; Romans 15.4-13; Matthew 3.1-12

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 16:35)

 

When it comes to the anticipation and preparation for various holidays, most would agree that there is more expectant anticipation for the coming of Christmas than any other holiday. And perhaps more so than any other time of year, our preparations for Christmas and the actual celebration of Christmas itself, are deeply rooted in tradition. While there are certainly specific traditions around such holidays as Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, none tend to be as elaborate as those surrounding Christmas. And none tend to be as sacrosanct. Our preparations include traditions surrounding Advent wreaths, putting out figures for the creche on a prescribed schedule, special Christmas concerts and dinners, and the greening of the church. And God forbid anyone change one single detail of those preparations.

 

And I’m sure we all have our family traditions. For example, my mother is very particular about how she decorates various rooms of the house. Some things vary from year to year, but some things are always the same. For example, the Christmas tree always must have the old beat-up tin star that my parents purchased for 39 cents at a drugstore for their first Christmas together in 1960. One year, they did purchase a new star to replace the old tattered one. I think it only lasted a few days before ending up in the trash, with the old beat-up star back where it belonged. Mom said, “It’s just not Christmas without that star.” I’m sure you have your own traditions surrounding preparing for and celebrating Christmas that are non-negotiable. And God forbid anyone even suggest changing something. Because it’s just not Christmas without that particular activity, that particular decoration, that particular food item. This is our image of preparation during this season—filled with never-changing traditions.

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The Place of Advent

First Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Matthew 24.36-44

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 17:20)

 

Happy New Year!

 

Yes, it’s the beginning of Advent and therefore, the beginning of a new year, at least as far as the Christian Church is concerned. Time to restart our annual liturgical calendar and reset our cycle of lectionary readings. Time to reset our intention as to what it means to live a life of faith in the One whose coming we celebrate this season and throughout the year.

 

But I have one question: Why Advent as the beginning of the Church year? Why not January 1^st to coincide with the secular calendar? Why not Christmas to coincide with the birth of our Lord, the One who ushers in a new era? Why not Easter to coincide with the resurrection and the promise of new and eternal life, really ushering in a new era? Why not Pentecost to coincide with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church? Of all the choices available for marking the passage of time and for demarcating a new beginning, there are certainly plenty of choices. But Advent? There’s nothing particularly notable about Advent. It is not a as much an event as it is a time of anticipation and preparation for actual events. Not to mention that, unlike Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, which are specific events that could actually be marked on a calendar (the actual date of Christmas notwithstanding), Advent is essentially just a made-up season. Although that little fact does not make Advent any the less valid. After all, the Church came up with Advent for very good reasons.

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Dual Citizenship

Christ the King (Year C)

Jeremiah 23.1-6; Luke 23.33-43

The Rev. Michael K. Fincher

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 18:45)

 

I know it happens every two years, like clockwork, that the feast of Christ the King falls a mere couple of weeks after our general elections in early November. But to be honest, I have never particularly thought about it before. The elections come and go, we move on, and a few weeks later we celebrate the last Sunday after Pentecost, the feast of Christ the King. But this year, it somehow seems more poignant. Perhaps because, in some ways, the election continues, with a few House races and many local races still up in the air. And as we await the final outcome of those races, of those final decisions about our earthly governance, we also celebrate on this day, governance of a different sort. For us Christians, a governance that is more important—or at least, should be—than any decisions about mayoral or gubernatorial races, about who controls the House of Representatives or the Senate.

 

Not to diminish the importance of our national and local elections. They do have their place. Through our election process, we have collectively chosen those who, at least theoretically, will govern in our name and on our behalf. Those names that have become known to us through the campaign season. Names elevated to prominence through the will of the majority on November 8^th. But today, we recognize that regardless of who is elected, we as God’s faithful, are subject to, as the Apostle Paul tells the Philippian church, “the name that is above every name”: Jesus Christ.

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Faithfulness and Endurance

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 28 (Year C)

Luke 21.5-19

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 16:05)

 

All three of our scripture readings for today, either directly or indirectly, deal with perceptions and concerns about the end times and God’s judgement. Concerns that contain images of and speak to the potential for destruction and ensuing chaos. And, to an extent, with the angst that such times produce. Not unlike some of the speculation of what might have happened—and maybe still could happen—as a result of Tuesday’s midterm elections. The exact nature of the destruction and chaos varying, depending on who you ask and who actually ends up being elected after all the votes are counted, runoff elections held, and probably even a few legal challenges adjudicated.

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Ancestors

All Saints' Sunday (Year C)

Ephesians 1.11-23; Luke 6.20-31

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 22:05)

 

Throughout history, there have been a number of cultures and religions that have—and still do—place a great deal of emphasis on the place of ancestors in the ongoing life of the community. A variety, if not most, cultures, now ancient history, have recognized the importance of their ancestors through practices and rituals. Some of these continue into our own day. For example, a number of Asian cultures and religious expressions, as well as Native American tribes and religious systems, recognize the importance of the ancestors. And we are certainly familiar with the celebration of Día de Los Muertos, in which the dead are honored by leaving gifts for them on ofrendas, or special altars honoring the departed.

 

In such cultures and religious systems, there is a recognition that the ancestors, even though physically dead, continue to be active in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. In some cases, this is a recognition of the contributions the ancestors made to the communal life and well-being. A way of remembering family lineage and maintaining kinship values and family loyalty. In some cases, it is believed that the ancestors intervene in the lives of the living, providing guidance and blessings to, sharing in joys and sorrows of, their living relatives. In some cases, the ancestors are even believed to serve as messengers between the divine and the living. While sometimes referred to as “ancestor worship,” this really is a misnomer. Such cultures and religions do not generally worship the ancestors as divine, but venerate them as having a special place of honor in the lives of families and communities.

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It's a Trap!

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 25 (Year C)

Luke 18.9-14

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 15:40)

 

As we delve into today’s Gospel reading—the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector—it becomes increasingly apparent that, like so many of Jesus’ parables, this story has multiple layers. As is often the case in parables, two things are going on. First, there is a certain degree of hyperbole expressed. Sometimes to the point of being ludicrous. And second, things are turned inside out, expectations are upended, as a way of ultimately getting to the point Jesus wants to make. Jesus does this because it is the hyperbolic and the unexpected outcomes that would have stuck in the minds of his hearers, thereby helping them to more fully process and remember his lessons. Today’s parable is no exception. We have loads of hyperbole and an unexpected outcome. But there is also a cherry on top, which is meant to further emphasize the main point. And that can best be characterized in words not from Jesus’ times, but rather from “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” In the words of Admiral Ackbar in Return of the Jedi, “It’s a trap!” But we have to really delve into the parable to see just how it is a trap. A trap that leads to the real point of the parable.

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Struggles

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 24 (Year C)

Genesis 32.22-31; Luke 18.1-8

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 17:15)

 

You have to admit, life is full of struggles. Sometimes these can be pretty major. Struggles with challenging situations, finances, relationships, health issues. Struggles that may be ongoing and often have a significant impact on the shape or trajectory of our lives. Sometimes even struggles that come to define who we are in a significant way. And then there are struggles that are pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. Sure, in the moment, they may seem pretty overwhelming, but in actuality, not so much. Struggles that quickly fade into the background once resolved. Becoming little more than a distant memory, if remembered at all. Unless one lives an absolutely charmed life, or is completely delusional, we readily accept that challenges and struggles are an inherent part of our existence. And some would argue that without challenges and struggles, life is meaningless. Without challenges and struggles, there is no opportunity for growth, for change, for improvement.

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